Toy
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2022177139
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2021-12-24
- Filing Date
- 2022-11-04
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-18
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-11-04
AI Technical Summary
Conventional toys using hook-and-loop fasteners for detachable skins are prone to dust accumulation, have poor durability, and are not hygienic due to cloth material, making them unsuitable for repeated use.
A toy design featuring synthetic resin contents and skins with protruding bodies that fit into recessed grooves, allowing multiple detachments while maintaining hygiene and durability, and incorporating features like rubber-like elasticity and ventilation holes.
The design ensures durable and sanitary play with reduced dust accumulation, improved operability, and a realistic peeling experience, enhancing the toy's longevity and cleanliness.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a toy including a content and a plurality of outer skins arranged to cover the outer peripheral side of the content, and the outer skins play by being peeled off from the content.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, as a toy having such a configuration, there has been a toy imitating a banana (for example, see Patent Document 1). This conventional toy is made of cloth and has a configuration in which the periphery of a fruit part as a content imitating a banana fruit is covered with a plurality of outer skins imitating a banana peel, and a hook-and-loop fastener is arranged on the inner peripheral surface side of the outer skin so that the outer skin is detachable from the fruit part, and it was a toy for enjoying the act of peeling a banana peel.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] However, since the conventional toy has a configuration in which the outer skin is attached to and detached from the fruit part using a hook-and-loop fastener, dust and the like easily enter the hook-and-loop fastener part, and the durability against a large number of attachment and detachment actions is not good. Further, since the whole is made of cloth, it is not hygienic.
[0005] The present invention solves the above problems and aims to provide a toy having good durability and being hygienic.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] The toy according to the present invention has a configuration including a content and a plurality of outer skins arranged to cover the outer peripheral side of the content, A toy in which the outer shell is connected to the contents at the base end and detachable from the contents at the tip end, The contents are said to be made of synthetic resin. The outer shell is made of a soft synthetic resin with rubber-like elasticity, and is designed to flex when peeled off, allowing the contents to be exposed. A protruding body is formed on either the outer surface of the contents or the inner surface of the outer shell, at least in a region near the tip, projecting toward the contents side or the outer shell side, and is elongated in shape substantially along the direction of peeling of the outer shell. A groove into which a protruding body can be fitted is formed on either the outer surface of the contents or the inner surface of the outer shell, at least in a region near the tip. The protruding body is characterized by being configured to be detachably fitted into the groove.
[0007] In the toy of the present invention, multiple outer shells arranged to cover the outer periphery of the contents are configured such that a protruding body formed on one shell fits into a groove formed on the other shell, thereby maintaining a state of covering the outer periphery of the contents. Furthermore, since the protruding body is detachably fitted into the groove, the toy can be enjoyed by repeatedly peeling (removing) the outer shell from the contents. Moreover, since the attachment and detachment of the outer shell from the contents is performed by fitting the protruding body, made of synthetic resin, into the groove, made of synthetic resin, it has good durability and can withstand numerous attachments and detachments.In addition, since both the outer shell and the contents of the toy of the present invention are made of synthetic resin, the entire toy can be easily washed by wetting it with water, and compared to using hook-and-loop fasteners, dust and other debris are less likely to accumulate, making it more hygienic.
[0008] Therefore, the toy of the present invention is durable and hygienic.
[0009] Furthermore, in the toy of the present invention, if the protruding body is formed on the inner surface side of the outer shell and the groove is formed on the outer surface side of the contents, the protruding body is made of a soft synthetic resin having rubber-like elasticity, making it easy to fit into the groove, and thus providing better operability compared to the opposite configuration, which is preferable.
[0010] Furthermore, in the toy with the above configuration, if a protruding body is formed approximately in the center on the side of the outer shell that is approximately perpendicular to the peeling direction, then by pressing the area near the center of the outer circumferential surface of the outer shell with a finger along the protruding body, the protruding body can be easily fitted into the groove, which is preferable.
[0011] Furthermore, in the toy with the above configuration, if the groove is configured such that a small gap is formed between the tip end and the protruding body when the protruding body is fitted, even if there are variations in the dimensions of the protruding bodies and grooves formed on each outer shell, when each outer shell is positioned to cover the contents, the protruding body can be reliably fitted into the groove all the way to its end, preventing the ends of each outer shell from floating and maintaining a neatly closed state, which is preferable.
[0012] Specifically, examples of toys include toys that simulate food.
[0013] Furthermore, as a simulated food toy, if the contents are made into elongated bodies, and the outer shells are arranged in a row on the circumferential side of the contents, and the peeling direction is roughly aligned with the longitudinal direction of the contents, then it can be applied to simulated food toys such as bananas, corn, and sausages.
[0014] Specifically, a toy resembling a banana can be given as an example of a toy resembling food.
[0015] When the toy is a simulated banana toy, the grooves are formed continuously along approximately the entire length of the contents, and the opening width is kept approximately constant along the entire length. It is preferable to form the protruding body continuously along substantially the entire length of the outer shell, and to make it narrower towards the base end connected to the contents side.
[0016] If the toy is constructed in this way, the initial resistance encountered when separating (peeling) the outer layer from the tip of the contents (when releasing the protruding part from its fitted state in the groove) can be increased, which is desirable because it realistically reproduces the feeling of peeling a banana, where there is a large initial resistance followed by smooth peeling.
[0017] Furthermore, when the toy is a simulated banana toy, the outer shell is configured to include an outer shell body that covers the outer surface of the contents, and a protruding body that extends outwards from the inner surface of the outer shell body. The protruding body is formed only in the tip-side region of the outer shell body. In the outer shell, the region on the base side that connects to the contents side may be formed with a thin wall.
[0018] In toys with this configuration, the outer peel, which is separated from the contents by being detached from the tip, can be easily bent at the thin parts. Therefore, the outer peel can be positioned to hang down from the contents, realistically recreating a peeled banana.
[0019] In a toy with this configuration, if the outer shell is made thinner towards the base part connected to the contents, the tip of the outer shell, which becomes the terminal side when peeled off, will be thicker than the base part. This makes the tip part relatively heavier, which is preferable as it makes it easier to hold the outer shell in a curved position.
[0020] Furthermore, in the toy with the above configuration, it is preferable to provide a through-hole that extends from the tip to the base along the entire length in the longitudinal direction, as this ensures ventilation along the entire length.
[0021] Furthermore, when the toy is configured such that a plurality of outer skins are arranged side by side on the circumferential side of the contents of the elongated body, it is preferable that each outer skin is configured to be detachably locked to each other at the tip side, so that the closed state of the tip of the outer skin can be maintained.
[0022] Specifically, when the toy is a simulated banana toy, the outer skin is configured to be provided with a spatula configuration part that protrudes from the tip side and constitutes a spatula part arranged on one end side of the banana toy. It can be exemplified that each spatula configuration part is configured such that adjacent side surfaces can abut against each other, and either a protrusion part or an insertion concave part into which the protrusion part can be inserted is provided on the opposing side surfaces, so that they can be detachably locked to each other.
[0023] And in the simulated banana toy having such a configuration, when a through-hole part that penetrates over the entire longitudinal length from the tip to the base part is provided, it is preferable that the protrusion part and the insertion concave part are arranged so as to bypass a hole concave part that constitutes the through-hole part in the spatula configuration part. With such a configuration, the open state of the through-hole part can be stably ensured.
[0024] Furthermore, when the toy is configured such that a plurality of outer skins are arranged side by side on the circumferential side of the contents of the elongated body, the outer skin and the contents are configured to be connected by a connecting member arranged on the base part side of the outer skin. An attachment piece part formed so as to intersect the longitudinal direction of the contents is provided on the base part side of the outer skin. The attachment piece part is configured to be sandwiched between the contents and the connecting member, and locking protrusion parts that protrude from the front and back on the tip side to the contents side and the connecting member side, respectively, are provided. It is preferable to form locking concave parts on the contents side and the connecting member side that can lock the locking protrusion parts at the periphery, corresponding to the locking protrusion parts.
[0025] With this configuration, when the toy is played with by peeling the outer shell away from the contents, even if the outer shell is pulled too hard inadvertently, the locking state between the locking protrusions on the front and back of the attachment piece and the locking recesses can be maintained, making it difficult for the outer shell to come off from the contents and further improving durability.
[0026] Furthermore, when a toy of this configuration is used as a simulated banana toy, the front-side locking projections that protrude toward the contents on the mounting piece are configured to have different shapes. It is preferable to configure the multiple locking recesses formed on the contents side to have different shapes, corresponding to the locking protrusions on the front side.
[0027] If the toy is constructed as described above, even if each outer layer covering the outer periphery of the contents is formed to have a slightly different external shape to correspond to the contents which are formed to be slightly curved, similar to a banana, the attachment pieces of each outer layer can be positioned correctly during manufacturing, thereby preventing each outer layer from being incorrectly assembled to the contents.
[0028] Furthermore, when the toy with the above configuration is a simulated banana toy, the mounting pieces are arranged between the contents and the connecting member so that adjacent edges come into contact with each other, and positioning grooves and protrusions are formed on the edges of at least some of the mounting pieces. In this configuration as well, each mounting piece can be positioned in the correct location, and it is preferable that the outer skins, which are formed with slightly different external shapes, are not misassembled to the contents during manufacturing. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0029] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view of a banana toy, which is the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic perspective view of the banana toy of the first embodiment, with the outer peel partially removed. [Figure 3] This is a schematic perspective view of the outer skin of the banana toy according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the banana toy according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a schematic end view of the banana toy according to the first embodiment, showing the VV portion in Figure 4. [Figure 6] This is a schematic end view of the banana toy according to the first embodiment, showing the area VI-VI in Figure 4. [Figure 7] This is a partially enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the upper end of the fruit portion in the banana toy of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a side view of the fruit portion of the banana toy according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a side view of the banana toy of the first embodiment, showing the outer peel as viewed from the underside. [Figure 10] Figure 9 shows the schematic longitudinal section and schematic cross section of the outer shell. [Figure 11] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the banana toy according to the first embodiment, showing the ends of the four outer peels butted together. [Figure 12] This is a schematic perspective view showing the base side wall of the fruit portion and the connecting pin in the banana toy of the first embodiment. [Figure 13] This is a plan view showing the connecting portion of the banana toy according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] This is a cross-sectional view of the connecting section, showing the XIV-XIV portion in Figure 13. [Figure 15] This is a schematic perspective view of a banana toy, which is a second embodiment of the present invention, with the outer peel partially removed. [Figure 16] This is a schematic perspective view of the outer skin of the banana toy according to the second embodiment. [Figure 17] This is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the banana toy according to the second embodiment. [Figure 18] This is a schematic end view of the banana toy according to the second embodiment, showing the XVIII-XVIII portion of Figure 17. [Figure 19] This figure shows a schematic longitudinal section and a schematic cross-section of the outer peel of the banana toy according to the second embodiment. [Figure 20]This is a schematic perspective view showing the banana toy of the second embodiment with the peel hanging down from the fruit portion. [Figure 21] This is a schematic perspective view of a banana toy, which is a third embodiment of the present invention, with the outer peel partially removed. [Figure 22] This is a schematic perspective view of the banana toy of the third embodiment, showing the outer peel as seen from the stem component side. [Figure 23] This is a schematic perspective view of the banana toy of the third embodiment, showing the outer peel as seen from the attachment piece side. [Figure 24] Figure 22 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the calyx component of the outer skin. [Figure 25] This is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the banana toy according to the third embodiment. [Figure 26] This is a schematic end view of the banana toy according to the third embodiment, showing the area XXVI-XXVI in Figure 25. [Figure 27] This is a schematic perspective view of the fruit portion of the banana toy of the third embodiment, as seen from the side wall of the base portion. [Figure 28] Figure 27 is a bottom view of the fruit. [Figure 29] This is a schematic perspective view of the banana toy of the third embodiment, showing the outer peel attached around the fruit portion. [Figure 30] This is a schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the banana toy, showing the attachment pieces on each outer peel as viewed from the stem component side, with both the edges in contact and separated states. [Figure 31] This is a schematic perspective view showing a modified example of the stem portion of each outer peel in the banana toy of the third embodiment. [Figure 32] This is a schematic perspective view of the outer shell, which is another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 33] This is a side view showing the outer peel and fruit portion side by side, which is yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 34] This is a schematic, partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a banana, which is yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0030] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. In this embodiment, a simulated banana toy (hereinafter abbreviated as "banana toy") 1 will be used as an example of a toy for the explanation.
[0031] The banana toy 1 of the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, is a long, slightly curved body that approximates a banana, and comprises a fruit portion 7 as the contents, a plurality (four in this embodiment) of outer peels 22 arranged to cover the outer circumference of the fruit portion 7, and a connecting member 32 that connects the fruit portion 7 and the outer peels 22 at the base. As shown in Figure 1, the banana toy 1 has the entire outer circumference of the fruit portion 7 covered by the outer peels 22 and has a stem portion 3 at one end (tip). That is, in the banana toy 1 of this embodiment, the stem portion 3 side is the starting end for peeling off the outer peels 22, and the outer peels 22 are configured to be peelable from the fruit portion 7, with the tip side, which is the stem portion 3 side, separated from the fruit portion 7. The banana toy 1 also has a through hole 4 that penetrates the entire length in the longitudinal direction from the tip (upper end 1a) to the base (lower end 1b) (see Figure 4). In this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, the up and down directions will be described with the stem portion 3 side of the banana toy 1 being the upper side and the connecting member 32 side being the lower side.
[0032] The fruit portion 7 has an external shape that approximates that of a real banana, as shown in Figure 2. It is a slightly curved, elongated, roughly cylindrical shape that tapers gently towards the tip, and the tip is curved into a roughly hemispherical shape (see Figure 8). The fruit portion 7 is made of synthetic resin, and in this embodiment, it is made of ABS resin. More specifically, the fruit portion 7 is formed in a hollow shape with a peripheral wall portion 8 that tapers towards the tip (upper end 8a) and a base side wall portion 12 that closes the base (lower end 8b) side of the peripheral wall portion 8. The upper end 8a side of the peripheral wall portion 8 has a through hole 7a that forms part of the through hole portion 4 (see Figures 4-6). Note that the reference numeral 8d in Figure 2 is an assembly recess for inserting a screw to connect the two divided parts that make up the fruit portion 7, which is actually made up of two parts, by screw fastening (not shown).
[0033] On the outer surface 8c of the peripheral wall portion 8 of the fruit portion 7, grooves 9 are formed so as to recess the outer surface 8c of the peripheral wall portion 8, into which protruding bodies 25 formed on the outer peel 22 side can be fitted. In this embodiment, the grooves 9 are formed in four locations on the circumferential side of the fruit portion 7, corresponding to the protruding bodies 25 formed on the outer peel 22 (see Figures 5 and 6), and are formed to substantially follow the peeling direction of the outer peel 22, i.e., the longitudinal direction (up and down direction). In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the grooves 9 are formed continuously on the peripheral wall portion 8, from the upper end 8a side to the connecting member 32 side at the lower end 8b side, over substantially the entire length (see Figure 8). The grooves 9 have an opening width dimension that is substantially constant over the entire length, and are configured to increase the amount of recess (become deeper) towards the upper end 9a side (see Figures 5, 6, and 8). The opening width of the groove 9 is set to a size that allows the protruding body 25 to be fitted, and the recess shape of the groove 9 is formed to match the protruding shape of the protruding body 25, so that when the protruding body 25 is fitted, the outer surface of the fruit portion 7 can be covered with virtually no gaps by the outer skin body 23, which will be described later. Specifically, the groove 9 is configured such that the tip-side region 9c, located on the upper end 8a (tip) side of the peripheral wall portion 8, corresponds to the tip-side region 25a of the protruding body 25, and the recess amount is larger (deeper) than the base-side region 9d, located on the lower end 8b (base) side (see Figures 5 and 6). In addition, the groove 9 is configured such that when the protruding body 25 is fitted, a small gap is formed between the terminal 9b on the upper end 9a side and the upper end surface of the protruding body 25 (the terminal 25aa of the tip-side region 25a, which will be described later) (see Figure 7). Specifically, the gap formed between the upper end 9a of the groove 9 and the end 25aa of the tip region 25a of the protruding body 25 has a width dimension W1 of approximately 0.3 mm (see Figure 7).
[0034] The base side wall portion 12 of the fruit portion 7 is configured to close the lower end 8b side of the peripheral wall portion 8. As shown in Figures 4 and 12, it has a through hole 12a in the center through which the pin body 18 of the connecting pin 15, which will be described later, can be inserted for fixing the fruit portion 7 to the connecting member 32. An opening 12b, which constitutes the through hole portion 4, penetrates the periphery of this through hole 12a. In this embodiment, the opening 12b is formed to extend from the through hole 12a. Specifically, the opening 12b is formed in three locations in a substantially radial pattern, excluding the area where the protruding piece 18b, which will be described later, is arranged to protrude from the pin body 18, and the shape of the opening is substantially semicircular. In addition, an opening 12c into which the protruding piece 18b can be inserted is also formed to extend from the through hole 12a (see Figures 4 and 12).
[0035] The fruit portion 7 is fixed to the connecting member 32 using a connecting pin 15 that is positioned to protrude from the base side wall portion 12. The connecting pin 15 that connects the fruit portion 7 to the connecting member 32 comprises a base portion 16 positioned inside the fruit portion 7 and a pin body 18 protruding from the base portion 16, as shown in Figures 4 and 12. The base portion 16 is positioned on the inside (upper side) of the base side wall portion 12 in the fruit portion 7 and is roughly rectangular in shape. In the base portion 16, a communication hole 16a is formed at a position corresponding to the opening 12b formed in the base side wall portion 12, with an opening shape that is roughly the same as the opening 12b and communicates with the opening 12b. This communication hole 16a also constitutes the through hole portion 4 (see Figures 4 and 12). The pin body 18 is formed to protrude downward so as to penetrate the base side wall portion 12, and its outer shape is substantially cylindrical with an open lower end, and a positioning projection piece 18b is configured to protrude outward from the outer surface. The projection piece 18b is formed at one location and is substantially along the axial direction of the pin body 18 and is formed continuously along the entire length of the pin body 18. When the pin body 18 is housed in the connecting member 32, its tip surface (lower end surface 18a) is configured to abut against the periphery of the connecting seat portion 35 (see Figure 4).
[0036] In this embodiment, the outer skin 22 (22A, 22B, 22C, 22D) is arranged in four pieces so as to cover the outer circumference of the fruit portion 7, which is divided into four sections (see Figures 1, 5, and 6). As shown in Figures 3, 9, and 10, each outer skin 22 comprises an outer skin body 23 that covers the outer circumference of the fruit portion 7, a stem component 24 formed to protrude from the tip (upper end 23a) side of the outer skin body 23, a protruding body 25 that protrudes from the inner surface 23c side of the outer skin body 23, and an attachment piece 28 disposed on the base (lower end 23b) side of the outer skin body 23 and attached to the connecting member 32. The outer skin 22 is made of a soft synthetic resin with rubber-like elasticity, and in this embodiment, it is made of polyvinyl chloride.
[0037] The outer skin body 23 (23A, 23B, 23C, 23D) of each outer skin 22 (22A, 22B, 22C, 22D) has a slightly different external shape to match the curved, roughly cylindrical shape of the fruit portion 7. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, each outer skin body 23 is configured to cover the outer circumference of the fruit portion 7 almost without gaps by butting adjacent ends together. Also, as shown in Figure 10, the outer skin body 23 is formed with a roughly constant thickness from the tip (upper end 23a) to the base (lower end 23b). The thickness of each outer skin body 23 is set to a dimension that allows it to flex during peeling, exposing the fruit portion 7. The stem component 24 is approximately 1 / 4 cylindrical in shape, and when the fruit portion 7 is covered by the outer skin 22, it combines with other stem components 24 formed on the outer skin 22 to form the stem portion 3 of the banana toy 1. Each stem component 24 has a recessed area 24a for a hole formed on its inner circumferential surface, extending across its entire upper and lower surface. This recessed area 24a forms a through hole 3a that penetrates the stem portion 3 (see Figures 1-3). The through hole 3a formed in the stem portion 3 forms part of the through-hole portion 4.
[0038] The protruding bodies 25 that project from the inner surface 23c side of each outer peel body 23 are formed so as to be roughly aligned with the peeling direction of the outer peel 22, that is, the length direction (up and down direction), and one is formed approximately in the center of each outer peel body 23 on the side perpendicular to the peeling direction (i.e., the width direction side). Furthermore, the protruding bodies 25 are formed continuously along approximately the entire length of the outer peel body 23. These protruding bodies 25 are configured to be detachably fitted into the grooves 9 formed in the fruit portion 7. In detail, the protruding bodies 25 are configured to become narrower towards the base (lower end) side which is on the connecting member 32 side. In this embodiment, the protruding body 25 has a wider tip-side region 25a located on the stem component 24 side (upper end side), a narrower base-side region 25b on the connecting portion side (lower end side), and a gradual change section 25c between the tip-side region 25a and the base-side region 25b, where the width gradually decreases from the tip-side region 25a to the base-side region 25b (see Figures 9 and 10). In this embodiment, the base-side region 25b, which is the narrowest part of the protruding body 25, has a width that is approximately the same as the opening width of the groove 9 formed in the fruit portion 7. That is, the gradual change section 25c and the tip-side region 25a have widths that are slightly larger than the opening width of the groove 9. In this embodiment, the tip-side region 25a has a width that is approximately 1.2 times the width of the base-side region 25b. Specifically, in this embodiment, the width dimension of the tip-side region 25a is set to 1.8 mm, and the opening width dimension of the groove 9 is set to 1.5 mm. In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, the projection 25 is configured such that the amount of protrusion gradually increases from the gradually changing section 25c to the tip-side region 25a. In the banana toy 1 of this embodiment, the projection 25 is made of a soft synthetic resin with rubber-like elasticity, and the gradually changing section 25c and the tip-side region 25a are fitted into the groove 9 by force (press-fit). That is, the projection 25 increases in width dimension and projection amount towards the tip-side region 25a, which is the stem 3 side, so the resistance when detaching from the groove 9 (when peeling the outer peel body 23 from the fruit part 7) also increases towards the tip-side region 25a.This forced fit creates resistance when peeling (removing) the outer peel body 23 from the tip (upper end 23a) side, thereby reproducing the realistic sensation of peeling a banana, where the resistance is greatest at the beginning and gradually decreases.
[0039] The mounting piece 28, which is disposed on the base (lower end 23b) side of the outer shell body 23, is formed to protrude inward from the base end (lower end 23b) of the outer shell body 23, as shown in Figures 3 and 10. When the fruit portion 7 is connected to the connecting member 32, the mounting piece 28 is sandwiched between the base side wall portion 12 of the fruit portion 7 and the connecting member 32, thereby connecting the outer shell 22 to the connecting member 32 (see Figure 4). In detail, each mounting piece 28 has an outer shape that is approximately a quarter circle, narrowing towards the inner end, and has an extended portion 28a that extends downward in the tip area that becomes the inner end 28b, and is recessed so that the pin body 18 of the connecting pin 15 can be inserted through it. Furthermore, each mounting piece 28 has an insertion hole 28c on its inner circumference end 28b side, through which the protruding piece 18b of the pin body 18 of the connecting pin 15 can be inserted, or a communication hole 28d that communicates with the opening 12b formed in the base side wall 12. Specifically, on the inner circumference end 28b side of one mounting piece 28, an insertion hole 28c is formed at a position corresponding to the insertion hole 37 of the connecting member 32 (described later), and communication holes 28d that communicate with the opening 12b are formed on the inner circumference end 28b side of the remaining three mounting piece 28 (see Figure 11). These communication holes 28d constitute the through-hole portion 4.
[0040] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, the connecting member 32 has an outer shape that is roughly frustoconical, with its outer surface smoothly continuing from the outer surface of the outer peel 22, and its diameter decreasing towards the lower end 32b (tip) away from the fruit portion 7 (see Figure 13). Specifically, as shown in Figure 14, the connecting member 32 has a double cylindrical shape in the area of the base portion (upper end 32a) that is on the fruit portion 7 side, and is configured so that the extended portions 28a of each mounting piece 28 can be inserted into the inner cylindrical portion 33 located on the inside. The connecting member 32 also has a bottomed, roughly cylindrical connecting seat portion 35 that protrudes (is recessed) from approximately the center of the lower end 32b towards the inner circumference (upwards). The connecting seat portion 35 comprises a roughly cylindrical peripheral wall portion 36 and a bottom wall portion 39 that closes the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 36. The bottom wall portion 39 is positioned below the tip surface (upper end surface 36a) of the peripheral wall portion 36 (intermediate portion), and the lower end portion of the pin body 18 of the connecting pin 15 is inserted into the region enclosed by the upper end portion 36b of the peripheral wall portion 36 and the bottom wall portion 39. The peripheral wall portion 36 has an insertion hole 37, which is cut out in a slit shape along the axial direction of the peripheral wall portion 36, into which the protruding piece 18b formed on the pin body 18 of the connecting pin 15 can be inserted. The bottom wall portion 39 has a mounting hole 39a for inserting a screw 42. This mounting hole 39a is formed at a position that substantially coincides with the opening 18c of the pin body 18 when the tip surface (lower end surface 18a) of the pin body 18 of the connecting pin 15 is in contact with the bottom wall portion 39. In this embodiment, the connecting pin 15 extending from the fruit portion 7 is connected to the connecting member 32 by inserting a screw 42 into the mounting hole 39a and fastening the inner surface of the mounting hole 39a to the inner surface of the opening 18c of the pin body 18. At this time, each outer peel 22 is connected to the connecting member 32 by sandwiching the mounting piece 28 between the connecting member 32 and the fruit portion 7. In addition, the insertion hole 37 formed in the peripheral wall portion 36 of the connecting seat portion 35 is formed to extend downward beyond the bottom wall portion 39 in this embodiment. In the insertion hole 37, the lower region 37a that extends downward below the bottom wall portion 39 constitutes a through hole portion 4 (see Figure 4).
[0041] In the banana toy 1 of the first embodiment, the through-hole portion 4 that extends through the entire length in the longitudinal direction from the tip (upper end 1a) to the base (lower end 1b) is composed of, as shown in Figure 4, a through-hole 3a formed in the stem portion 3, a through-hole 7a formed on the tip (upper end 8a) side of the peripheral wall portion 8 of the hollow fruit portion 7 and an opening 12b formed in the base side wall portion 12, a communication hole 16a formed in the base portion 16 of the connecting pin 15 so as to communicate with the opening 12b, a communication hole 28d formed in the mounting piece portion 28 of the outer skin 22 so as to communicate with the opening 12b, and the lower region 37a of the insertion hole 37 formed in the peripheral wall portion 36 of the connecting seat portion 35 of the connecting member 32.
[0042] In the banana toy 1 of the first embodiment, multiple outer peels 22 arranged to cover the outer circumference of the fruit portion 7, which is the contents, are configured to maintain a state of covering the outer circumference of the fruit portion 7 by fitting a protruding body 25 formed on one side into a recessed groove 9 formed on the other side. Furthermore, since the protruding body 25 is configured to be detachably fitted into the recessed groove 9, the toy can be enjoyed by repeatedly peeling the outer peels 22 off the fruit portion 7. In addition, since the attachment and detachment of the outer peels 22 to the fruit portion 7 is performed by fitting the protruding body 25, which is made of synthetic resin, into the recessed groove 9, which is made of synthetic resin, it has good durability and can withstand numerous attachments and detachments. Moreover, in the banana toy 1 of the embodiment, since both the outer peels 22 and the fruit portion 7 that constitute the banana toy 1 are made of synthetic resin, it is easy to wet the whole thing with water and wash it, making it hygienic.
[0043] Therefore, the banana toy 1 of the first embodiment is durable and hygienic.
[0044] Furthermore, in the banana toy 1 of the first embodiment, the protruding body 25 is formed on the inner surface 23c side of the outer peel 22, and the groove 9 is formed on the outer surface 8c side of the fruit portion 7. That is, in the banana toy 1 of the embodiment, since the protruding body 25 is made of a soft synthetic resin having rubber-like elasticity, it is easy to fit into the groove 9, and the operability is better compared to the opposite configuration, which is preferable. If these points are not taken into consideration, the protruding body may be formed on the fruit portion side and the groove on the outer peel side.
[0045] Furthermore, in the banana toy 1 of the first embodiment, since the protruding body 25 is formed at approximately the center of the outer peel 22 in a direction approximately perpendicular to the peeling direction, the protruding body 25 can be easily fitted into the groove 9 by pressing the area near the center of the outer peripheral surface of the outer peel 22 with a finger along the protruding body 25. In addition, by arranging a plurality of grooves 9 radially along the length direction on the axial direction side of the fruit part 7, the fruit part 7 can be made to more closely resemble a real banana (a banana with the strings removed). It should be noted that, if these points are not considered, the arrangement position and shape of the protruding bodies are not limited to the embodiment, and for example, the protruding bodies may be arranged continuously along the periphery of the outer peel.
[0046] Furthermore, in the banana toy 1 of this embodiment, the groove 9 is configured such that when the protruding body 25 is fitted, a small gap is formed between the terminal 9b on the tip (upper end 9a) side and the protruding body 25 (specifically, the terminal 25aa of the tip-side region 25a of the protruding body 25). Therefore, even if there are variations in the dimensions of the protruding body 25 formed on each outer peel 22 and the groove 9, when each outer peel 22 is positioned to cover the fruit portion 7, the protruding body 25 can be reliably fitted into the groove 9 up to the terminal 25aa of the tip-side region 25a, preventing the terminals of each outer peel 22 (the upper end 23a side of the outer peel body 23) from floating, and maintaining a neatly closed state. Note that if these points are not considered, the groove does not need to be configured to provide a gap when the protruding body is fitted.
[0047] Furthermore, in the banana toy 1 of the first embodiment, the groove 9 is formed continuously along substantially the entire length of the fruit portion 7, and the opening width is kept substantially constant along the entire length. The projection 25 is formed continuously along substantially the entire length of the outer peel 22, and is configured to become narrower towards the base end (lower end 23b side of the outer peel 22) connected to the fruit portion 7. As a result, when peeling (removing the projection 25 from the fitted state in the groove 9) the outer peel 22 from the tip (upper end 23a) side, the initial resistance is made large, and the feeling of peeling a banana, where there is a large initial resistance and then it peels smoothly, can be realistically reproduced.
[0048] Furthermore, the banana toy 1 of the first embodiment is configured to have a through-hole 4 that extends through the entire length in the longitudinal direction from the tip (upper end 1a) to the base (lower end 1b), thus ensuring ventilation along its entire length.
[0049] Next, the banana toy 50 of the second embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 15 to 17, the banana toy 50 has the same configuration as the banana toy 1 of the first embodiment described above, except for the fruit part 55 and the outer peel 60. Therefore, the same components are denoted with the letter "A" at the end of their reference numerals, and detailed explanations will be omitted. In this banana toy 50 of the second embodiment, four outer peels 60 are provided to cover the outer circumference of the fruit part 55 (see Figure 18). The banana toy 50 is covered with the outer peel 60 on the entire outer circumference of the fruit part 55, and has a stem part 51 on one end (upper end 50a), and a through hole 52 that penetrates the entire length in the longitudinal direction from the tip (upper end 50a) to the base (lower end 50b) (see Figure 17).
[0050] The fruit portion 55 has substantially the same configuration as the fruit portion 7 in the banana toy 1 of the first embodiment, except for the groove 57 formed in the peripheral wall portion 8A. The same components are denoted with "A" at the end of the same reference numeral, and detailed explanations are omitted. The fruit portion 55 also has a through hole 55a that constitutes the through hole portion 52 on the upper end 8a side of the peripheral wall portion 8A. As shown in Figure 15, the groove 57 is formed on the outer surface 8c of the peripheral wall portion 8A of the fruit portion 55, only in the area on the tip (upper end 8a) side, by recessing the outer surface 8c. The groove 57 has the same configuration as the groove 9 formed in the fruit portion 7 of the banana toy 1 described above, except for the difference in length, and is formed in four places on the circumferential side of the fruit portion 55, corresponding to the protrusions 66 formed on the outer peel 60, and is formed to substantially follow the peeling direction of the outer peel 60, i.e., the length direction (up and down direction). In this embodiment, the groove 57 is formed in the peripheral wall portion 8A, in an area of approximately one-third of the upper end 8a side. Although detailed illustration is omitted, the opening width dimension of the groove 57 is kept approximately constant along its entire length. The opening width dimension of this groove 57 is set to a dimension that allows the protruding body 66 to be fitted. In the banana toy 50 of the second embodiment, although detailed illustration is omitted, the groove 57 is configured, similar to the banana toy 1 described above, so that when the protruding body 66 is fitted, a small gap is formed between the upper end terminal and the upper end surface of the protruding body 66.
[0051] The outer skin 60 has substantially the same structure as the outer skin 22 of the banana toy 1 of the first embodiment, except for the outer skin body 61 and the protruding body 66 (i.e., the stem component 24A and the mounting piece 28A). For identical components, the letter "A" is added to the end of the same reference numeral, and a detailed explanation is omitted.
[0052] The outer skin body 61 of each outer skin 60 is slightly different in shape to match the curvature of the fruit portion 55, similar to the outer skin body 23 of the outer skin 22 in the banana toy 1. In the banana toy 50 of the second embodiment, each outer skin body 61 is configured to cover the outer circumference of the fruit portion 55 with virtually no gaps by butting adjacent ends together, as shown in Figure 18. The outer skin body 61 is configured to be thicker at the tip (upper end 61a) and thinner towards the base (lower end 61b) which is the connecting member 32A side (see Figure 19). In detail, in the embodiment, the outer shell body 61 has a thicker tip-side region 62 on the stem component 24A side (upper end side) and a thinner base-side region 63 on the connecting member 32A side (lower end side). Between the tip-side region 62 and the base-side region 63, there is a gradually decreasing thickness section 64 from the tip-side region 62 to the base-side region 63. In the embodiment, the thickness of the base-side region 63 is set to about half that of the tip-side region 62. Also, in the embodiment, the boundary portion 61d between the base-side region 63 and the connecting member 32A in the outer shell body 61 is configured as an R-shape with a gently curved inner surface to prevent cracking due to stress concentration during use (see Figure 19).
[0053] The protruding bodies 66 that project from the inner surface 61c side of each outer peel body 61 are formed so as to be substantially aligned with the peeling direction of the outer peel 60, that is, the length direction (up and down direction), and one is formed approximately in the center of each outer peel body 61 on the side perpendicular to the peeling direction (i.e., the width direction side). As shown in Figures 16 and 19, the protruding bodies 66 are formed only in the tip-side region 62 of the outer peel body 61. These protruding bodies 66 are configured to be detachably fitted into the groove 57 formed in the fruit portion 55, and their width dimension is kept constant and set to be larger than the opening width dimension of the groove 57 formed in the fruit portion 55. In other words, in this second embodiment of the banana toy 50 as well, the protruding bodies 66 are fitted into the groove 57 by forcing them into place.
[0054] In this second embodiment of the banana toy 50, the peel body 61, which is peeled away from the fruit portion 55 as the contents, is separated from the tip (upper end 61a) side and can be easily bent at the thin-walled portion (base portion 63, the portion on the lower end 61b side of the peel body 61). Therefore, as shown in Figure 20, the peel body 61 can be positioned to hang down from the fruit portion 55, realistically reproducing a peeled banana. In the second embodiment, the thickness dimension of the peel body 61 is changed to make the peel body 61 bendable at the portion on the lower end 61b side. However, by changing the grade of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is the material used to form the peel 60, and using a softer PVC, the peel body can be bent even more easily. Furthermore, in the banana toy 50 of the second embodiment, the protruding body 66 disposed on the tip (upper end 61a) side of the outer peel body 61 is set to have a width larger than the opening width dimension of the groove 57 formed in the fruit part 55, and is fitted into the groove 57 by force. As a result, when peeling (removing the protruding body 66 from the fitted state in the groove 57) the outer peel 60 away from the tip (upper end) side of the fruit part 55, the initial resistance applied can be increased, and the feeling of peeling a banana can be realistically reproduced.
[0055] Furthermore, in the banana toy 50 of the second embodiment, the outer peel body 61 is configured to be thinner towards the base (lower end 61b) side that is connected to the fruit part 55. That is, the tip side region 62 of the outer peel body 61, which is the terminal side when peeled, is set to be thicker than the base side region 63, and since the tip side region 62 can be made relatively heavy, it becomes easier to hold the outer peel body 61 in a curved state. If these points are not taken into consideration, the outer peel body may be configured to have a substantially constant thickness, with a thin-walled portion provided in the base side (connecting part) that is connected to the fruit part.
[0056] Next, the banana toy 70 of the third embodiment will be described. Similar to the banana toy 1 of the first embodiment, the banana toy 70 comprises a fruit portion 75 as the contents, four outer peels 80 (80A, 80B, 80C, 80D) that cover the outer circumference of the fruit portion 75, and a connecting member 32B that connects the fruit portion 75 and the outer peels 80 (80A, 80B, 80C, 80D) at the base. Since the connecting member 32B has the same configuration as the connecting member 32 in the banana toy 1 of the first embodiment, a "B" is added to the end of the same reference numeral, and a detailed explanation is omitted. The banana toy 70 of the third embodiment is also configured such that the outer circumference of the fruit portion 75 is covered with four outer peels 80 (80A, 80B, 80C, 80D), and has a stem portion 71 at one end (upper end 70a), and a through hole portion 72 that penetrates the entire length in the longitudinal direction from the tip (upper end 70a) to the base (70b) (see Figure 25).
[0057] The fruit portion 75 has substantially the same configuration as the fruit portion 55 in the second embodiment of the banana toy 50, except for the locking recess 77 formed in the base side wall portion 12B. For identical components, the letter "B" is added to the end of the same reference numeral, and detailed explanation is omitted. This fruit portion 75 also has a through hole 75a that constitutes a through hole portion 72 on the upper end 8a side of the peripheral wall portion 8B (see Figures 21 and 25). This fruit portion 75 is also fixed to the connecting member 32B using a connecting pin 15B that is positioned to protrude from the base side wall portion 12B. However, in the second embodiment of the banana toy 70, unlike the first embodiment of the banana toy 1, the connecting pin 15B is connected to the fruit portion 75 at the peripheral edge of the base portion 16B, exposing the base portion 16B (see Figures 25, 27, and 28). In other words, in the banana toy 70 of the second embodiment, the base portion 16B of the connecting pin 15B constitutes the base side wall portion 12B of the fruit portion 75. The connecting pin 15B has substantially the same configuration as the connecting pin 15 in the banana toy 1 of the first embodiment, except that the base portion 16B is connected to the fruit portion 75 in such a way that the base portion 16B is exposed and a locking recess is provided on the base portion 16B which constitutes the base side wall portion 12B. For identical components, the letter "B" is added to the end of the same reference numeral, and a detailed explanation is omitted.
[0058] The locking recesses 77 formed in the base side wall portion 12B of the fruit portion 75 are for inserting and locking the locking projections 91, which will be described later, formed on the attachment piece portion 88 of each outer peel 80, at their periphery. Specifically, as described above, they are formed in the base portion 16B of the connecting pin 15B. The locking recesses 77 (77A, 77B, 77C, 77D) are formed in four locations surrounding the pin body 18B when the fruit portion 75 is viewed from below (towards the tip of the pin body 18B), corresponding to each locking projection 91 (91A, 91B, 91C, 91D), and each is configured with a different external shape (see Figures 27 and 28). Specifically, in the fruit portion 75 (see Figure 28), where the protruding piece 18b is positioned to protrude upward when viewed from the tip side (bottom) of the pin body 18B, the locking recess 77A located on the upper side (protruding piece 18b side) is formed at two locations on both sides of the protruding piece 18b, each opening in a roughly right-angled triangular shape. The locking recess 77B located on the left side is formed in a roughly arc-shaped curve at the periphery of the opening 12b formed in the base side wall portion 12B. The locking recess 77C located on the lower side is formed as an elongated shape extending roughly in a straight line in the left-right direction below the opening 12b. The locking recess 77D located on the right side is formed at two locations, upper and lower, on both sides of the opening 12b, each opening in a roughly circular shape.
[0059] Each outer skin 80 (80A, 80B, 80C, 80D) has a configuration that is substantially the same as the outer skin 60 in the banana toy 50 of the second embodiment, except for the stem component 82 and the mounting piece 88 (88A, 88B, 88C, 88D), namely the outer skin body 61B and the protruding part 66B. For identical components, the letter "B" is added to the end of the same reference numeral, and a detailed explanation is omitted.
[0060] In the third embodiment of the banana toy 70, each outer peel 80 (80A, 80B, 80C, 80D) is configured to have a stem component 82. The stem component 82 has an outer shape that is approximately 1 / 4 cylindrical, similar to the stem component 24 in the first embodiment of the banana toy 1. When the fruit portion 75 is covered by each outer peel 80, it comes into contact with the stem component 82 formed on the other outer peel 80, with adjacent sides touching, to form the stem portion 71 (see Figures 25 and 26). In addition, each stem component 82 has a recessed area 82a for a through hole 72 (a through hole 71a that penetrates the stem portion 71), which is formed by recessing the inner circumferential surface side and extending over the entire upper and lower area (see Figures 22 to 24).
[0061] Furthermore, in this embodiment, each stem component 82 is configured to be detachably and temporarily connected to one another. That is, each outer sheath 80 is configured to be detachably and temporarily connected to one another at the portion of the stem component 82 that is at the tip. Specifically, each stem component 82 has substantially the same external shape, with a projection 83 provided on one side surface 82b, and an insertion recess 84 into which the projection 83 can be inserted is provided on the other side surface 82c at a position corresponding to this projection 83 (see Figures 22-24). In other words, when adjacent side surfaces 82b and 82c of each stem component 82 are brought into contact with each other, the projection 83 formed on the opposing side surfaces 82b and 82c is inserted into the insertion recess 84, thereby locking the projection 83 at the periphery of the insertion recess 84, and the components are temporarily connected to each other as shown in Figure 26. These insertion recesses 84 and projections 83 are arranged to bypass the hole recess 82a. Specifically, in this embodiment, the projections 83 are formed so that their side surfaces are continuous with the inner circumferential surface of the hole recess 82a, and the insertion recesses 84 are formed so as to recess the inner circumferential surface of the hole recess 82a (see Figure 24).
[0062] The mounting pieces 88 (88A, 88B, 88C, 88D), similar to the mounting piece 28 in the banana toy 1 of the first embodiment, are formed on the base (lower end 61b) side of the outer skin body 61B on each outer skin 80 (80A, 80B, 80C, 80D) so as to protrude inward from the lower end 61b (intersecting the longitudinal direction of the fruit portion 75), and are configured to be held between the fruit portion 75 and the connecting member 32B, as shown in Figure 25. Each mounting piece 88, similar to the mounting piece 28 described above, has an outer shape that is approximately a quarter-circular plate shape, and is narrowed towards the inner circumferential end 88a (tip) (see Figures 22, 23, 30). On the inner circumference end 88a (tip) side of each mounting piece 88 (88A, 88B, 88C, 88D), locking protrusions 89 and 91 are formed, projecting toward the fruit portion 75 side and the connecting member 32B side (upper and lower sides), respectively.
[0063] On the back surface (bottom surface 88c) of each mounting piece 88 (88A, 88B, 88C, 88D), the locking projection 89, which is formed to protrude toward the connecting member 32B, is formed to be curved in a substantially arc shape when viewed from the top or bottom of the mounting piece 88, so that the pin body 18B of the connecting pin 15B can be inserted through it (see Figures 23 and 30). The locking projection 89 of the mounting piece 88A, which is provided on the outer sheath 80A positioned to correspond to the protruding piece 18b on the pin body 18B of the connecting pin 15B, has an insertion hole 89a formed in its inner circumferential surface so that the protruding piece 18b can be inserted through it. The locking projection 89 of the mounting pieces 88B, 88C, 88D provided on the remaining outer sheaths 80B, 80C, 80D has a communication hole 89b formed in its inner circumferential surface so that it corresponds to the opening 12b formed in the base side wall portion 12B and communicates with the opening 12b (see Figures 22, 23, 29, 30). Each locking projection 89 is arranged in a substantially cylindrical shape so as to surround the outer circumference of the pin body 18B of the connecting pin 15B over almost its entire circumference when each outer peel 80 is positioned around the fruit portion 75 (see Figure 29). When each outer peel 80 and the fruit portion 75 are connected to the connecting member 32B, as shown in Figure 25, the projection 89 is inserted into the gap between the pin body 18B and the inner cylindrical portion 33B of the connecting member 32B. In other words, in the connecting member 32B, the inner circumference region of the inner cylindrical portion 33B constitutes a locking recess 40B into which the locking projection 89 can be inserted and locked at the periphery.
[0064] On the surface (upper surface 88b) side of each mounting piece 88 (88A, 88B, 88C, 88D), the locking projections 91 (91A, 91B, 91C, 91D) (front side locking projections) that are formed to protrude toward the fruit portion 75 are each configured to have different shapes. Each locking projection 91 (91A, 91B, 91C, 91D) is positioned in correspondence with the locking recesses 77 (77A, 77B, 77C, 77D) formed on the fruit portion 75 side as described above. Specifically, in the mounting piece 88A of the outer skin 80A, which is positioned on the protruding piece 18b side formed on the pin body 18B, the locking projection 91A is formed in a roughly right-angled triangular shape at two locations on both sides of the insertion hole 89a, when the mounting piece 88A is viewed from the stem component 82 side (above side) (see Figures 30 A and B). In the mounting piece 88B of the outer skin 80B, which is positioned to the right of the outer skin 80A when viewed from the stem component 82 side (above side) (see Figures 30 A and B), the locking projection 91B is formed in a roughly arc-shaped curve around the periphery of the communication hole 89b. In the mounting piece 88C of the outer shell 80C, which is positioned below the outer shell 80A, the locking projection 91C is formed as an elongated shape that extends substantially in a straight line to the left and right in the direction below the communication hole 89b. In the mounting piece 88D of the outer shell 80D, which is positioned to the left of the outer shell 80A, the locking projection 91D is formed in a substantially circular shape at two locations, upper and lower, on both sides of the communication hole 89b.
[0065] These mounting pieces 88A, 88B, 88C, 88 are configured such that when each outer peel 80A, 80B, 80C, 80D is attached around the fruit portion 75, the adjacent edges 88d, 88e come into contact with each other so as to cover substantially the entire base side wall portion 12B of the fruit portion 75. Furthermore, in the banana toy 70 of the third embodiment, at least some of the mounting pieces 88 (specifically, the three mounting pieces 88B, 88C, 88D) have grooves 88d, 88e formed on their edges for positioning when each outer peel 80A, 80B, 80C, 80D is attached to the fruit portion 75. Specifically, as shown in Figures 30A and 30B, protrusions 93 projecting outward in a roughly triangular shape are formed on both edges 88d and 88e of the mounting piece 88C of the outer shell 80C located on the lower side, and recesses 94 corresponding to these protrusions 93 are formed on the edges 88d and 88e on the mounting piece 88C side of the mounting pieces 80B and 80D of the outer shells 80B and 80D located on the left and right sides of the outer shell 80C, respectively.
[0066] The banana toy 70 of the third embodiment can be manufactured by arranging the outer peels 80A, 80B, 80C, and 80D on the outer circumference of the fruit part 75, inserting the locking protrusions 89 protruding from each outer peel 80A, 80B, 80C, and 80D into the inner cylinder part 33B, arranging the connecting member 32B on the base side of the outer peels 80A, 80B, 80C, and 80D, and connecting the connecting pin 15B extending from the fruit part 75 to the connecting member 32B using screws 42B. Although not specifically described, the banana toys 150 of the first and second embodiments are manufactured in the same manner.
[0067] In the third embodiment of the banana toy 70, each outer peel 80 is configured to be detachably interlocked at the stem portion 71, which is the tip (upper end 70a) side, so that the closed state of the tip of the outer peel 80 can be maintained. In other words, the outer peel 80 can stably maintain a state in which the outer circumference of the fruit portion 75 is completely covered. Specifically, in the third embodiment of the banana toy 70, each outer peel 80 is configured to have interlocking projections 83 or insertion recesses 84 on adjacent sides 82b, 82c of the stem component 82 that constitutes the stem portion 71, and these projections 83 and insertion recesses 84 are arranged to bypass the hole recess 82a that constitutes the through hole portion 72 (through hole 71a of the stem portion 71) in the stem component 82. Therefore, by stably maintaining the locking state between the stem components 82, the external shape of the stem portion 71 can be stably maintained, allowing for a more realistic reproduction of a banana before peeling, and while maintaining this locking state, the opening state of the through-hole portion 72 can be stably secured. As shown in Figures 31A and 3B, the stem component 82A may also be configured such that a protruding portion 83a is provided on the lower end side of the projection portion 83A, and a recess 84a is provided in the insertion recess 84A corresponding to this protruding portion 83a, into which the protruding portion 83a can be inserted. If the stem component 82A is configured in this way, the locking state between the stem components 82A can be maintained even more stably. This temporary locking state between the stem components 82 is also durable and can withstand numerous attachments and detachments because the projection portion 83 is inserted into the correspondingly formed insertion recess 84 to lock it in place. Of course, if these points are not taken into consideration, it is not necessary to configure the stem components 24, 24A to be able to lock together with each other, as in the banana toy 1,50 of the first and second embodiments.
[0068] Furthermore, in the third embodiment of the banana toy 70, an attachment piece 88 is formed on the base side of the outer peel 80 so as to intersect with the longitudinal direction of the fruit portion 75, and is sandwiched between the fruit portion 75 and the connecting member 32B. In addition, the attachment piece 88 has locking protrusions 89 and 91 formed on the front and back sides of the tip (inner circumference end 88a), respectively, and these locking protrusions 89 and 91 are locked at the periphery of locking recesses 77 and 40B provided on the fruit portion 75 side and the connecting member 32B side. Therefore, when playing with the banana toy 150 in the first and second embodiments, even if the outer peel 80 is pulled too hard, the locking state between the locking projections 89 and 91 protruding from the front and back of the mounting piece 88 and the respective locking recesses 77 and 40B can be maintained, making it difficult for the outer peel 80 to come off from the fruit piece 75 and further improving durability. If this point is not taken into consideration, the banana toy 150 in the first and second embodiments may be configured without locking projections on the front surface of the mounting pieces 28 and 28A. In the banana toy 150 in the first and second embodiments, the extended portion 28a of the mounting pieces 28 and 28A is a member corresponding to the locking projection that protrudes toward the connecting member on the back surface of the mounting piece.
[0069] Furthermore, in the third embodiment of the banana toy 70, the locking projections 91 (91A, 91B, 91C, 91D) (front side locking projections) formed on the mounting piece 88 (88A, 88B, 88C, 88D) of each outer peel 80 (80A, 80B, 80C, 80D) protruding toward the fruit portion 75, and the locking recesses 77 (77A, 77B, 77C, 77D) formed on the fruit portion 75 side corresponding to these locking projections 91 (91A, 91B, 91C, 91D), are configured to have different shapes. Therefore, even if each outer skin 80 (80A, 80B, 80C, 80D) covering the outer circumference of the fruit portion 75 is configured to have slightly different external shapes, the mounting pieces 88 (88A, 88B, 88C, 88D) of each outer skin 80 (80A, 80B, 80C, 80D) can be positioned correctly during manufacturing, thereby preventing each outer skin 80 (80A, 80B, 80C, 80D) from being incorrectly assembled to the fruit portion 75.
[0070] Furthermore, in the third embodiment of the banana toy 70, each mounting piece 88 (88A, 88B, 88C, 88D) is positioned between the fruit portion 75 and the connecting member 32B such that adjacent edges 88d, 88e abut each other, and positioning protrusions 93 or recesses 94 are provided on the edges 88d, 88e of at least some of the mounting pieces (in this embodiment, mounting pieces 88B, 88C, 88D). As a result, each mounting piece 88 (88A, 88B, 88C, 88D) can be positioned correctly, and it is possible to prevent the incorrect assembly of each outer peel 80 (80A, 80B, 80C, 80D), which are formed with slightly different external shapes, to the fruit portion 75 during manufacturing.
[0071] In the third embodiment of the banana toy 70, the mounting piece 88 (88A, 88B, 88C, 88D) is provided with both a locking projection 91 (91A, 91B, 91C, 91D) which is shaped differently on the upper surface 88b side (fruit portion 75 side) and a convex portion 93 or concave portion 94 which protrudes from the edge portions 88d, 88e. However, from the viewpoint of preventing incorrect assembly, it is also acceptable to provide only one of them. If both the locking projection 91 and the convex or concave portion 93 are provided, then, first, one outer peel 80 can be assembled to the fruit portion 75 in the correct position using the locking projection 91. The remaining three outer peels 80 can then be assembled using the convex or concave portion 94 as a guide, without using the locking projection 91. This makes it possible to assemble all the outer peels 80 to the fruit portion 75 correctly and quickly, which is desirable.
[0072] In the banana toys 1, 50, and 70 of the embodiment, the outer peels 22, 60, and 80 are irremovably connected to the fruit parts 7, 55, and 75, which constitute the contents, by connecting members 32, 32A, and 32B. However, the outer peels may be connected to the contents in a detachable manner. In such a configuration, the connecting members may be omitted, and the outer peels may cover the entire outer circumference of the contents. Of course, the number of outer peels is not limited to four. Also, in the banana toys 1, 50, and 70 of the embodiment, the stem components 24, 24A, and 82 that constitute the stem parts 3, 51, and 71 are arranged on each of the four outer peels 22, 60, and 80. However, the stem parts may be arranged on only one outer peel instead of being divided into four. Furthermore, if the stem portion is to be placed on only one outer peel, the locking projection and locking recess provided on the upper end 70a side of the banana toy 70 of the third embodiment may be configured to be located on the upper end side of the outer peel body.
[0073] In the banana toy 1 of the first embodiment, the outer peel 22 is not configured to hang down significantly when peeled from the fruit portion 7. However, even in a banana toy 1 with such a configuration, the outer peel can be made to hang down from the fruit portion by, for example, configuring the protruding body 102 to be divided into multiple parts rather than continuously, as shown in the outer peel 100 in Figure 32, or by placing a weight inside the stem portion (although not shown in the figure).
[0074] Furthermore, the fruit portion 105 and the outer skin 110 may be configured as shown in Figure 33. The groove 106 formed in the fruit portion 105 comprises a narrow portion 106a at the tip and a wide portion 106b that is separated from the narrow portion 106a and is set to be wider than the narrow portion 106a at the base. In the outer skin 110, the protruding body 112 that extends from the outer skin body 111 has a tip side portion 112a that can be fitted into the narrow portion 106a of the groove 106 and a base side portion 112b that can be fitted into the wide portion 106b, and the tip side portion 112a and the base side portion 112b are separated. The base side portion 112b is wider than the wide portion 106b and is configured to be forcibly fitted into the wide portion 106b. With this configuration, the outer shell 110 can bend in the region between the tip side portion 112a and the base side portion 112b of the outer shell body 111. Furthermore, by making the width dimension of the base side portion 112b wider than the wide portion 106b, the base side portion 112b comes into contact with the peripheral portion of the wide portion 106b and acts as a stopper, preventing the outer shell from returning to its closed state due to the restoring force, and making it easier to maintain the bent state of the outer shell body 111. In the illustrated example, the groove 106 is configured to separate the narrow portion 106a and the wide portion 106b, but the groove may also be configured to extend the narrow portion so that the narrow portion and the wide portion are arranged continuously. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 34, the amount of protrusion of the base side portion 112b of the protruding body 112A may be set to be large for the outer shell 110A. In this configuration, even when the outer shell body 111 is peeled back, the base side portion 112b remains within the wide portion 106b of the groove 106A. The friction generated between the outer surface of the base side portion 112b and the inner surface of the wide portion 106b prevents the outer shell from returning to its closed state, making it easier to maintain the bent state of the outer shell body 111A.
[0075] Furthermore, in banana toys 1, 50, and 70, the outer peel 22, 60, and 80, and the connecting members 32, 32A, and 32B can also be formed from thermochromic materials. For example, if the outer peel and connecting parts are green in their normal state, and the toys are designed to change color from green to yellow and then to brown due to temperature changes caused by body heat when held, the process of a banana ripening can be reproduced.
[0076] In this embodiment, a banana toy is used as an example for explanation, but the present invention is not limited to bananas as long as it allows for the enjoyment of peeling the outer skin from the contents. For example, it can be applied to long-shaped mock food toys that resemble corn, sausages, bamboo shoots, etc. It can also be applied to mock food toys that resemble various foods that are not long but allow for the enjoyment of peeling, such as citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, leafy vegetables like cabbage and lettuce, individually packaged processed cheese wrapped in aluminum foil, and individually packaged rice balls wrapped in film. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to mock food toys, but can also be applied to toys that allow for the enjoyment of peeling, such as toys that involve repeatedly attaching and detaching tape or stickers, or mock pack toys that resemble packs used for doll faces. [Explanation of symbols]
[0077] 1...Banana toy (toy), 7...Fruit part (contents), 8c...Outer surface, 9...Groove, 22...Peele, 23...Peele body, 23c...Inner surface, 25...Protruding body, 25a...Tip side region, 25b...Base side region, 50...Banana toy (toy), 55...Fruit part (contents), 57...Groove, 60...Peele, 61...Peele body, 62...Tip side region, 63...Base side region, 66...Protruding body, 70...Banana toy (toy), 71...Stem part, 72...Through hole part, 75...Fruit part (contents), 77(77A,77 B, 77C, 77D)... Locking recess, 80 (80A, 80B, 80C, 80D)... Outer skin, 82... Stem component, 82a... Hole recess, 82b, 82c... Side surface, 83... Projection, 84... Insertion recess, 88 (88A, 88B, 88C, 88D)... Mounting piece, 88a... Inner circumference end (tip), 88b... Top surface, 88c... Bottom surface, 88d, 88e... Edge, 89... Locking projection, 91 (91A, 91B, 91C, 91D)... Locking projection (front side locking projection), 93... Convex part, 94... Recess.
Claims
1. Comprising a content and a plurality of outer skins disposed so as to cover the outer peripheral side of the content, The outer skin is connected to the content on the base portion side and is configured to be peelable from the content so that the tip side is separated from the content, The content is made of synthetic resin, The outer skin is made of a soft synthetic resin having rubber-like elasticity and is configured to bend during peeling to expose the content, On one of the outer surface of the content or the inner surface of the outer skin, in a region at least near the tip, a protrusion projecting toward the content side or the outer skin side is formed in a long shape substantially along the peeling direction of the outer skin, On the other of the outer surface of the content or the inner surface of the outer skin, in a region at least near the tip, a concave groove into which the protrusion can be fitted is formed, A toy characterized in that the protrusion is configured to be detachably fitted to the concave groove.
2. The protrusion is formed on the inner surface side of the outer skin, The toy according to claim 1, wherein the concave groove is formed on the outer surface side of the content.
3. The toy according to claim 2, wherein one protrusion is formed substantially at the center on the side of the outer skin in a direction substantially orthogonal to the peeling direction.
4. The toy according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the concave groove is configured to form a slight gap between the terminal on the tip side and the protrusion when the protrusion is fitted.
5. The toy according to claim 2, wherein the toy is a simulated food toy.
6. The content is a long body, The toy according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of the outer skins are arranged in parallel on the circumferential side of the content, and the peeling direction is configured to be substantially along the longitudinal direction of the content.
7. The toy according to claim 6, wherein the toy is a simulated banana toy.
8. The concave groove is continuously formed over substantially the entire length of the content, and the opening width dimension is substantially constant over the entire length, The toy according to claim 7, wherein the protrusion is continuously formed over substantially the entire length of the outer skin and is configured to have a narrow width from the base portion side connected to the content side.
9. The outer skin includes an outer skin main body that covers the outer peripheral side of the content, and the protruding body that protrudes from the inner surface side of the outer skin main body, and is configured to have such a structure. The protruding body is formed only in the tip-side region of the outer skin main body. The toy according to claim 7, wherein the outer skin main body is formed to be thin in the region on the original part side that is connected to the content side.
10. The toy according to claim 9, wherein the outer skin main body is configured to be thin from the original part side connected to the content side.
11. The toy according to claim 6, further comprising a through hole portion that penetrates the entire longitudinal length from the tip to the original part.
12. The toy according to claim 6, wherein each of the outer skins is configured to be detachably locked to each other on the tip side.
13. The toy according to claim 12, wherein the toy is a simulated banana toy.
14. Each of the outer skins has a protruding portion that protrudes from the tip side and constitutes a rough portion, respectively. The toy according to claim 13, wherein each of the rough-portion constituting parts is configured such that adjacent side surfaces can abut against each other, and either a protruding portion or an insertion concave portion into which the protruding portion can be inserted is disposed on opposite side surfaces to be detachably locked to each other.
15. It is configured to include a through hole portion that penetrates the entire longitudinal length from the tip to the original part. Each of the rough-portion constituting parts has a hole concave portion that constitutes the through hole portion. The toy according to claim 14, wherein the protruding portion and the insertion concave portion are arranged so as to bypass the hole concave portion.
16. The outer skin and the content are configured to be connected by a connecting member disposed on the original part side of the outer skin. The outer skin has a mounting piece portion formed on the original part side so as to intersect the longitudinal direction of the content. The mounting piece portion is configured to be sandwiched between the content and the connecting member, and locking protrusions protruding from the content side and the connecting member side are respectively disposed on the front and back surfaces on the tip side. The toy according to claim 6, wherein locking concave portions capable of locking the locking protrusions at the periphery are formed corresponding to the locking protrusions on the content side and the connecting member side.
17. The toy according to claim 16, wherein the toy is a simulated banana toy.
18. In each of the attachment piece portions, the front side locking protrusions formed to protrude toward the content side are configured to have different shapes from each other. The toy according to claim 17, characterized in that the plurality of locking recesses formed on the content side are configured to have different shapes corresponding to the front side locking protrusions.
19. Each of the attachment piece portions is arranged between the content and the connecting member such that adjacent edges are in contact with each other. The toy according to claim 17, characterized in that positioning irregularities are formed on the edges of at least some of the attachment piece portions.